tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254272216866737058.post1100384417406943200..comments2015-03-01T06:22:26.517-07:00Comments on Καθολικός διάκονος: "Where is the world conscience?"Deacon Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385969740195992108noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254272216866737058.post-47253350291962691752010-11-16T07:28:10.332-07:002010-11-16T07:28:10.332-07:00The problem with Iraq, as Pope John Paul II forcef...The problem with Iraq, as Pope John Paul II forcefully pointed out, is that it did not meet the just war criteria. I have no problem at all with just war theory as it applies to various situations. Of course, just war theory traditionally breaks into two parts: <i>jus ad bellum</i>, which governs when force can be used, and <i>jus in bello</i>, which deals with how force is to be used. A newer necessary addition to just war theory is <i>jus post bellum</i> that deals with how to justly terminate a conflict. It seems to me that to create an unstable situation and leave while innocents are vulnerable and likely to be attacked (i.e., Christians in Iraq) is not just.Dcn Scott Dodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09994604395739905637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254272216866737058.post-58452057183152801302010-11-16T07:20:42.432-07:002010-11-16T07:20:42.432-07:00I must say that I struggle with the whole concept ...I must say that I struggle with the whole concept of &quot;just&quot; war. Entering into conflict brings into it evil. Sometimes not engaging in conflict lets evil continue.<br><br>it seems to me (from my limited perspective), that there are times when there is no morally good option. It is a choice among evils.<br><br>I see this in our decision to invade Iraq. I see this in the aggresive methods (waterboarding) used by our government, I see this in our use of Nuke&#39;s in WWII against Japan.<br><br>It becomes very difficult when there is hardly a &quot;good&quot; that can be chosen.<br><br>I trust the wisdom of the Church, because I recognize my own limitations in discernment of these things. But this is one area where I honestly just don&#39;t know how one can come to form their conscience on such issues when no decision seems to point to the good. <br><br>This is something we are discussing in Morality, in Gula&#39;s text. No answers are discovered in the questions, just more questions. But I guess that is the nature of things.Dan Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254272216866737058.post-31338433822280199992010-11-16T07:11:53.051-07:002010-11-16T07:11:53.051-07:00Dan:I agree. Our involvement in Iraq from beginnin...Dan:<br><br>I agree. Our involvement in Iraq from beginning to what is starting to be the end is, indeed, half-assed. The U.S. invasion of Iraq was opposed by the Holy See from the get-go. However, since we did it, the Holy See has been equally adamant that we have a moral duty to stabilize the country before leaving. Sadly, this won&#39;t be the case and our brothers and sisters in Christ, who have been there far longer than Islam has been extant, will continue to be targeted by Islamic extremists. <br><br>Another sad casualty of the modern Middle East are the ancient Jewish communities from the levant to Afghanistan, including what at one time was a large community in Baghdad.<br><br>The opening verses of <i>Psalm</i> 79 comes to mind:<br><br>&quot;O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;<br>they have defiled your holy temple;<br>they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.<br><br>&quot;They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.<br><br>&quot;They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.<br><br>&quot;We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.<br><br>&quot;How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?&quot;Dcn Scott Dodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09994604395739905637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254272216866737058.post-34891565094546655742010-11-16T06:22:31.319-07:002010-11-16T06:22:31.319-07:00There are many who predicted that the withdrawal o...There are many who predicted that the withdrawal of American troops would lead to a vacuum that would breed this kind of violence. <br><br>Unfortinately, this is what typically happens after a military pull-out of foreign forces when there is not enough stability.<br><br>There are many who said, &quot;bring the troops home&quot;. And I can certainly understand American citizens wanting this.<br><br>However, in doing so, this and the former administration have created a problem which history should have already taught them. Yet they did not learn the lessons of what happened when America pulled out of Vietnam.<br><br>America couldn&#39;t stay in Iraq forever, nor can it easily withdraw without the violence we see today.<br><br>But here&#39;s the problem. America will tend to ignore the violence there, because our troops have withdrawn. There is no will on the part of American people to see this through.<br><br>America went in and did a half-assed job. Saddam Hussein was a butcher that needed to go. It is a sad irony, though, that the violence continues.Dan Snoreply@blogger.com